Anonymous donor pledges $2,500 challenge gift to help drive donations
Penn State Lehigh Valley (PSU-LV) is raising funds to furnish a new Admissions Welcome Center on Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving fueled by social media and collaboration. It is celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and kicks off the charitable holiday season. This year Giving Tuesday will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 1. The fundraising window opens at 18:55 (6:55 p.m.) on Monday, Nov. 30, representing when Penn State was founded in 1855, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1.
Donations made during this time frame through the PSU-LV Giving Tuesday website will support transitioning the current Lion’s Den into a new Welcome Center that will welcome prospective families, community partners and other guests – and display Penn State pride from the moment they walk through the campus doors. The transition and rededication of this space is part of a larger expansion project where the current campus footprint will expand by 20,500 square feet, all being done in response to the campus’ growth in recent years.
The campus welcomes 350 prospective students and their family members each year. This is in addition to the nearly 1,000 students currently enrolled, as well as receiving the dozens of campus visitors, alumni, and community partners that visit our campus daily. Current students from the Spring 2020 PSU-LV Integrated Arts course helped develop ideas that will be integrated into this space. Donations on #GivingTuesday will help make their vision a reality
“This new Welcome Center will provide the first impression of campus; it’s where prospective students start their Penn State journey and begin to feel like our campus is ‘home’,” said Tina Q. Richardson, chancellor of Penn State Lehigh Valley. “PSU pride will be harnessed by everyone who enters the space.”
The campaign is being supported by a $2,500 challenge gift from an anonymous donor who will contribute $2,500 to match donations as they come in and increase the amount raised to $5,000. The campaign donor goal is 75 donors. Graduates of the last decade (2011-2021), known as GOLD donors, who contribute to a #GivingTuesday campaign with a gift of $5 or more will receive a 1:1 match from the University, up to $100.
The Welcome Center is also being supported by a grant from Barnes and Noble and is currently being designed by Howard Kulp Architects, PC. The space will integrate technology, PSU-inspired art, a lounge, meeting spaces, and access to the Barnes & Noble Bookstore. Funds from #GivingTuesday will go toward furnishing the space, which will include furniture, lamps, coffee service bar and a presentation area.
Give to PSU-LV on #GivingTuesday by visiting the PSU-LV Giving Tuesday website. Follow Penn State Lehigh Valley on Instagram, and PSULehighValley on Facebook and Twitter for live updates on the #PSUGivingTue #TogetherWeAre challenge.